38
merely looked through the books, a less exacting
task, and all the time, up above, he could hear the
inconsolable screaming, the gentle hush-hush of his
sister, and the sound of her feet as she walked up
and down. With the last stroke of the clock the
cries abated, and a moment later Agnete would
come down again and, with a sigh, take her place
at the table. He said nothing but immediately began
on the work that required more concentration.
They sat in silence until the clock struck ten, then
she left him alone. Later his brothers came home
and he said no more than " good-night" to them,
so as not to be distracted.
Very soon they grew much busier ; within a week
or two their custom had increased. All the in-
habitants of the street and of the side-streets between
the Kampervest and the Gracht, now that they
knew how the profits were being disposed of, con-
sidered it their duty to deal with Werendonks and
thereby to make their contribution towards helping
the needy victims. Well-to-do people who lived
farther off, too, sent word to him that he could call
for orders every morning. At first he used to send
Frans to do the errands, but very soon he realised
that he couldn't manage without him at home, so
he employed a lad, the son of one of the creditors.
They had to lay in larger stocks. They became so
busy that they had to keep the shop open later at
nights, and, as he had his accounts to do then, he